5 to 7 (2015) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Yes, at the end when Brian encounters Arielle and Valéry outside the Guggenheim Museum years later, Arielle subtly reveals she has kept the ring he gave her when he proposed. This gesture indicates her unresolved feelings for Brian and suggests their connection, though brief, left a lasting mark on her.

Foreshadowing: The proposal scene earlier established the emotional significance of the ring exchange.

• arielle
• ring
• proposal
• guggenheim
• brian

Valéry gives Brian a check for $250,000 after slapping him following Arielle's acceptance of Brian's proposal. The check is Valéry's way of buying Brian out of the situation, he wants to ensure Arielle maintains the lifestyle she deserves and sees money as a means to force Brian out of their lives permanently.

Foreshadowing: Valéry's awareness of the affair was established when he confronted Brian earlier.

• valéry
• check
• money
• bribe
• 250000

Arielle chooses to stay with Valéry because she cannot abandon her family, her children and the life she has built. Despite her genuine feelings for Brian, her letter explains that her responsibilities and love for her family outweigh her desire to be with him. This reflects the central conflict of the film between passion and commitment.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early that Arielle values her family structure despite its unconventional arrangements.

• arielle
• valéry
• family
• children
• choice

Jane is Arielle's other lover and is also involved with Valéry, creating a complex polyamorous arrangement within the household. She is a 25-year-old editor who meets Brian when he is introduced to Arielle's family. Jane's relationship with Valéry eventually reaches a breaking point, adding to the emotional strain among all parties.

Foreshadowing: Jane is introduced during Brian's meeting with Arielle's children, where emotional confrontations occur.

• jane
• arielle
• valéry
• relationship
• lover

Valéry confronts Brian at the hotel immediately after Brian proposes to Arielle because he has been watching them and cannot accept their relationship. His anger culminates in a physical confrontation, he slaps Brian, followed by the check, demonstrating his desperation to maintain control over his marriage and family structure.

Foreshadowing: Valéry was previously shown to be aware of the affair and had confronted Brian earlier in the story.

• valéry
• brian
• confrontation
• hotel
• slap

Brian meets Arielle's children during a pivotal dinner encounter where he is also introduced to Jane, Arielle's other lover. This meeting is significant because it marks a point where Brian is drawn deeper into Arielle's family life, complicating his feelings and understanding of her situation.

Foreshadowing: This event follows Arielle and Brian's regular meetings at the hotel.

• brian
• arielle
• children
• meeting
• jane

Brian's writing career reaches a milestone when his debut novel gets published. This success is set up during the award ceremony when Jane reveals that their mutual friend Galassi is interested in publishing Brian's work. The publication represents Brian's personal growth and a new chapter in his life separate from his relationship with Arielle.

Foreshadowing: The award ceremony establishes Galassi's interest in Brian's manuscript.

• brian
• novel
• publishing
• career
• success

Brian proposes to Arielle because he genuinely falls in love with her and wants a future together, despite knowing about her complicated arrangement with Valéry. The proposal happens at their hotel sanctuary during a moment of deep emotional connection, showing Brian's willingness to commit fully despite the unconventional circumstances.

Foreshadowing: Their relationship has been building throughout the film, with Brian increasingly unable to resist his feelings.

• brian
• arielle
• proposal
• marriage
• love

The 5 to 7 arrangement is the specific time window, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, that Arielle and her husband Valéry have agreed upon for pursuing extramarital affairs. This unusual arrangement defines the boundaries of their open marriage and is the central premise that complicates Arielle's relationship with Brian.

Foreshadowing: Arielle reveals this arrangement during her second encounter with Brian.

• 5 to 7
• arrangement
• time
• affair
• marriage

Years later, Brian, who now has a wife named Kiva and a two-year-old son, unexpectedly encounters Arielle, Valéry, and their now-teenage children outside the Guggenheim Museum. The encounter is charged with nostalgia, and while both parties have moved on, the lingering emotional connection is evident when Arielle shows she still has the ring.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with a reflective voice-over and ends with this flash-forward, emphasizing the theme of looking back.

• guggenheim
• encounter
• years later
• arielle
• brian